Lirac

France · AOC (PDO) · Rhône Valley

Styles

Natural factors

Vineyards spread across 4 communes in the Gard department, at elevations between 50 and 200 m, on terraces and hillsides oriented NE–SW along the Rhône.
The Mistral, a cold, dry northerly wind, blows approximately 180 days per year, keeping the vineyard healthy and disease pressure low.
Upper terraces: red clay soils with large rounded pebbles, known as "Villafranchian terraces".
Hillsides and lower slopes: skeletal loessic or clay-limestone soils (rendzina-like), all susceptible to summer drought.

Human factors

In 1737, the communes of Roquemaure, Lirac, and St-Laurent began branding their barrels with a hot iron before the wines were shipped from the port of Roquemaure.
The Lirac AOC was recognised by decree on 14 October 1947, becoming the first Côtes du Rhône cru authorised in all three colours — red, rosé, and white.

Product characteristics

Reds: deep colour, aromas of ripe fruit, spice, and leather; a broad palate with powerful yet rounded tannins, well suited to ageing. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
White wines are floral and fruit-forward (white fruit), with garrigue notes and a long finish; rosés, made by saignée, are fresh and rounded with ripe red-fruit character.

Terroir / wine link

White varieties are planted on calcareous soils and black varieties on well-drained clay soils: growers direct plantings according to soil type in order to express both power and structure.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.